Adherence to antiretroviral therapy among HIV-infected methadone patients:Effect of ongoing illicit drug use

Methadone maintenance patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus ( HIV) currently receiving antiretroviral therapy had HN RNA testing and were surveyed regarding their adherence to their treatment regimens. Adherence was measured using self-report on four questions relating to medication use in the last day and last month and whether the patient took "drug holidays ." Of the patients (N = 42), 52% were receiving two-drug antiretroviral the rapy and 48% were receiving triple therapy that included a protease inhibit or. Persons on triple therapy reported higher rates of adherence on all mea sures and were more likely to have undetectable HIV RNA levels than persons on dual therapy (60% vs. 50%). Ongoing illicit drug injection was the only factor significantly associated (p <.05) with multiple measure nonadherenc e; however, it was not associated with undetectable HIV RNA level. Levels o f nonadherence were comparable to estimates from other chronic diseases, bu t this Ending has important implications for patients receiving highly acti ve antiretroviral therapy.